Walk-in crib

ABSTRACT

A walk-in crib supply system. The system includes a room with an interior, an exterior, and a locked electric door. The system further includes an identity key reader, and a computing terminal. The networked computing terminal verifies a user identity based on the identity key, sends an unlock signal to the locked electric door and logs in the user identity and a login time. The system also includes a shelf in the interior, which has a monitoring device that monitors an item inventory of the shelf. The monitoring device reports the item inventory to the computing terminal, and the computing terminal reports the item inventory to a remote inventory data center.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to aprovisional patent application serial No. 60/242,417, filed on Oct. 23,2000.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The invention relates to a dispensing cabinet. Specifically, theinvention relates to the monitoring of an item dispensing cabinet.

[0003] Conventional supply cabinets or stock rooms or tool cribs ordispensing cabinets include a locked cabinet or a locked room andsupplies, which are typically manned. The locked supply cabinets eitherare inaccessible or cause unnecessary delay to employees needing supply.Furthermore, the inventory of the supply cabinets usually requiresmanual accounting and manual re-ordering, which result in errors leadingto either under-stocking or over-stocking. It is also well known thatsome of the supplies in the supply cabinets are used very infrequently,and that theft and misuse are also common. A supply cabinet which moreefficiently controls the supply inventory, and still provides adequatemonitoring and refilling of the supply would therefore be welcomed byusers of such cabinets.

[0004] Accordingly, the present invention provides a method of automatedmonitoring of a walk-in crib supply system. The method includes scanningan identity key from a user, verifying a user identity based oncomparing the identity key against a user-database, and automaticallylogging the user identity and a login time in a computing terminal. Themethod further includes sending an unlocking signal from the computingterminal to unlock a locked electric door of a supply room, opening thedoor and entering the supply room, and electronically logging in thecomputing station whether a take button or a return button is pushedbased on whether an item is to be taken or returned. The method stillfurther includes electronically logging in the item being taken orreturned when the item is taken or returned, electronically monitoring aclosing of the electric door when the user leaves the supply room, andsending a locking signal from the computing terminal to lock theunlocked electric door.

[0005] Furthermore, the present invention also provides a walk-in cribsupply system. The system includes a room with an interior, an exterior,and a locked electric door, the locked electric door being coupled to acomputing terminal networked to a remote inventory data center. Thesystem further includes an identity key reader on the exterior andcoupled to the computing terminal, the identity key reader scanning inan identity key from a user and sending the identity key to thecomputing terminal, the networked computing terminal verifying a useridentity based on the identity key, sending an unlock signal to thelocked electric door and logging in the user identity and a login time.The system also includes a shelf in the interior, the shelf having amonitoring device which monitors an item inventory of the shelf, themonitoring device being coupled to the computing terminal and reportingthe item inventory to the computing terminal, the computing terminalreporting the item inventory to the remote inventory data center.

[0006] Other features and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] In the drawings:

[0008]FIG. 1 shows a walk-in crib supply system according to the presentinvention; and

[0009]FIG. 2 shows flow diagram of walk-in crib control and monitoringprocedures according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0010] Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail,it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in itsapplication to the details of construction and the arrangement ofcomponents set forth in the following description or illustrated in thefollowing drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and ofbeing practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is tobe understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is forthe purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. Theuse of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereofherein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalentsthereof as well as additional items.

[0011] Referring to FIG. 1, a walk-in crib supply system 100 accordingto the present invention is shown. The walk-in crib supply system 100includes a room 105, an interior 110, an exterior 115, and a locked door120 with an electric lock 125. The locked door 120 with the electriclock 125 is coupled to a computing terminal 130, which is networked to aremote inventory data center (not shown) through a network connection135 and obtains its power through a power outlet 137.

[0012] When a user approaches the system 100, the user swipes anidentity key (not shown), such as an ID badge containing a bar code or amagnetic stripe, across an identity key reader 140 on the exterior 115of the room 105. The identity key reader 140 is also coupled to thecomputing terminal 130. Once the identity key reader scans in anidentity key from a user, the identity key reader 140 sends the identitykey to the computing terminal 130. When the networked computing terminal130 verifies the user identity, the computing terminal 130 logs in theuser identity and a login time. The computing terminal 130 may show on adisplay 145 an inventory question or survey. Once the user enters ananswer to the inventory question, the computing terminal 130 sends anunlock signal to the locked electric door 120. Once the door 120 isunlocked, and the door 120 is opened (which is monitored by an electricdoor switch 150), the user is allowed to enter the room 105. Theidentity key reader 140 may also include a monitoring device thatmonitors the presence of an identity key in the proximity of the room105. The identity key may include a lanyard with barcode or a smart chipattached. This arrangement provides hands-free access to the room. Itwill also be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that thedisplay 145 may include a touch screen and a keypad.

[0013] Once in the interior 110 of the room 105, the user will haveaccess to a shelf 155. The shelf includes a monitoring device 160 whichmonitors an inventory of an item 165. The monitoring device furtherincludes a take button 170, a return button 175, and a display 180. Themonitoring device 160 is also coupled to the computing terminal 130through a communication hub 185. The user will have to push the takebutton 170 or the return button 175 for taking or return an item. Oncethe item 165 is taken or returned, the monitoring device 160 reports tothe computing terminal 130 through the communication hub 185. Theinventory information is then reported to a remote inventory datacenter. It should be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art thata communication hub may be unnecessary when the room is relatively smallor there is a relatively small inventory to track.

[0014]FIG. 2 shows a flow diagram 200 of walk-in crib control andmonitoring procedures according to the present invention. The procedurestarts (step 205) when a user approaches the system, the user swipes anidentity key, such as an ID badge containing a bar code or a magneticstripe, across an identity key reader in step 210. A computing terminal(as shown in FIG. 1) verifies a user identity based on the identity keyin step 215, and then logs in the user identity and a login time in step220.

[0015] At this point, the computing terminal may show on a display 145(FIG. 1) an inventory question or survey. Once the user answers thequestion in step 225, the computing terminal sends an unlocking signalto a locked electric door 120 of Figure 1 to unlock the door (step 230).The user may enter the crib or the room (step 235), and have access tothe supply. When the user decides to take an item from the shelf(determined in 240), the user is required to push a take button 170(FIG. 1) on a monitoring device 160 (FIG. 1) in step 245, before theitem is taken from the shelf in step 250. Otherwise, when the userdecides to return an item to the shelf (determined in 255), the user isrequired to push a return button 175 (FIG. 1) on the monitoring device160 (FIG. 1) in step 260, before the item is returned to the shelf instep 265. Thereafter, the user exits the room (step 270), closes thedoor (step 275), and hits “exit” on the display (step 280). Thecomputing terminal may be programmed to skip the question session andunlock the door to allow the user to enter the room. Furthermore, thecomputing terminal will also send a locking signal to the electric lock125 (FIG. 1) to lock the door when the door is closed.

[0016] Thus, the invention provides, among other things, a walk-in cribsupply system. Various features and advantages of the invention are setforth in the following claims.

what is claimed is:
 1. A method of automated monitoring of a walk-incrib supply system, the method comprising: scanning an identity key froma user; verifying a user identity based on comparing the identity keyagainst a user-database; automatically logging the user identity and alogin time in a computing terminal; sending an unlocking signal from thecomputing terminal to unlock a locked electric door of a supply room;opening the door and entering the supply room; electronically logging inthe computing station whether a take button or a return button is pushedbased on whether an item is to be taken or returned; electronicallylogging in the item being taken or returned when the item is taken orreturned; electronically monitoring a closing of the electric door whenthe user leaves the supply room; and sending a locking signal from thecomputing terminal to lock the unlocked electric door.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising: displaying an inventory question providedby the computing terminal on a display; and receiving an inventoryanswer to the inventory question from the user.
 3. The method of claim1, further comprising monitoring for the presence of an identity key inthe proximity of the room.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein theidentity key comprises a bar code.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein theidentity key comprises a magnetic stripe.
 6. The method of claim 1,further comprising reporting the user identity and the login time to aremote inventory data center.
 7. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising automatically reporting to the computing terminal and theremote inventory center whether an item is returned or taken.
 8. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising indicating “exit” on the display.9. A walk-in crib supply system comprising: a room with an interior, anexterior, and a locked electric door, the locked electric door beingcoupled to a computing terminal networked to a remote inventory datacenter; identity key reader on the exterior and coupled to the computingterminal, the identity key reader scanning in an identity key from auser and sending the identity key to the computing terminal, thenetworked computing terminal verifying a user identity based on theidentity key, sending an unlock signal to the locked electric door andlogging in the user identity and a login time; and a shelf in theinterior, the shelf having a monitoring device which monitors an iteminventory of the shelf, the monitoring device being coupled to thecomputing terminal and reporting the item inventory to the computingterminal, the computing terminal reporting the item inventory to theremote inventory data center.
 10. The system of claim 9, furthercomprising a display on the exterior, adjacent to the locked door andcoupled to the computing terminal.
 11. The system of claim 9, whereinthe computing terminal further comprises a computer and a communicationhub.
 12. The system of claim 9, wherein the monitoring device furthercomprises a take button, a return button and a display.
 13. The systemof claim 9, further comprising an electrical door, adjacent to thelocked door, and coupled to the computing station.
 14. The system ofclaim 9, further comprising a refrigeration device in fluidcommunication with the interior.
 15. The system of claim 9, furthercomprising a display operably coupled to the computing terminal.
 16. Thesystem of claim 15, wherein the display further comprises a touchscreen.
 17. The system of claim 15, wherein the display furthercomprises a keypad.
 18. The system of claim 9, further comprising anetwork connection coupled to the computing terminal.